Hey, everyone.
Sorry for the long wait. I kinda got lost in the world of FFXIV again.
For anyone who doesn't know, they just released the climactic finale to the storyline that began at the very start of the game at the start of December. And, due to a wonky server connection, I'd been unable to play for the better part of the year, up until late October. So I had a lot of prep todo and story to get through and, well, I'm one to take my time with a game. Add the fact that the last three big games I was into had their final bosses spoiled for me thanks to jackasses on Youtube putting their name and image in the thumbnail, I didn't want that happening again, so I poured all my free time into the game.
And what a story it was. Seriously, best game I've ever played. I got it back in 2019 and I'm still not bored of it.
Anyway, having finally gotten to the endgame, I'm now back to writing.
Guest: No, just added detail on the author note.
SCI-FIWIARDMAN: Yeah, seriously. Therapy should be a thing in the Narutoverse. And this is a way cutting out Sakura's parents was a disservice, because I can't imagine them not wanting to be there for their daughter's orphan teammates.
I can see Kurama trying to corrupt Naruto to make being sealed in him more tolerable, but into letting him out knowing he'd be killing himself in the process? I think he'd probably give that idea up as a lost cause.
777torn777: Indeed.
dextron11: Yeah, in retrospect it might have been a better idea to continue that scene...
thtadthtshldntb: Yeah, I understand that.
Didn't Jiraiya say they wouldn't pursue Naruto or the other Jinchuriki for a few years anyway? So Itachi just used collecting him early as an excuse to check up on Sasuke.
You are vastlly underestimating Obito and the Sharingan. Don't forget Sasuke, who's not even that good with Sharingan genjutsu as demonstrated by Danzo breaking his Tsukuyomi, was able to suppress the Kyuubi with just the basic Sharingan. Go back to chapter 502 I believe. Obito appeared in Kushina's mindscape the way Sasuke did Naruto's and mind controlled the Kyuubi before it was released, again, with just the basic Sharingan. He didn't even need the Mangekyo, and the contract just lets him summon him to his location, it has nothing to do with controlling him.
Huh. I did not know that about the InoShikaCho trio. It was explained that he saved him because he didn't want to die, even if he would just revive later. Can't imagine that's pleasant, and one of his lines implied that while other Biju have died in the past, Kurama never had, and I can't imagine he was eager to learn what it was like. Still, that could be part of it.
Gunblade2022: Yeah, I agree. It might be the result of Kishimoto's retcons.
Hixaf: From my understanding, the main problem with Chidori is tunnel vision, the speed it relies on causes, so someone who can see their foes and surroundings through a sixth sense like extreme chakra sensing may be able to circumvent that problem. There are other reasons I'm considering giving her Chidori, and I haven't even come close to deciding yet. Suffice to say, it'd be really late in the story if I did. And canon Karin aside from the chains really only has healed, though a very powerful healing ability, sensor abilities, and a stealth technique that leaves her unable to fight.
Mostly, the conversations about Hinata are more about how poorly I think the romance was executed in this series, how Hinata as the main love interest should have had more development, my frustration that the Hyuuga clan's storyline, which I was interested in and she was a central part in, wasn't really brought up again after Naruto's fight with Neji, and others' opinions on it.
IFRITE: Well, I'm glad you gave it another chance and found you enjoyed it. I hope I don't fail your and my other reader's expectations.
Nithi Velu: When did they say he should rely on Kurama's power? Jiraiya said he needed to learn to control it so he can use it if he really needs it and so something like what happened in canon when Pain almost killed Hinata, i.e. Naruto completely losing control and the seal nearly breaking doesn't occur.
MonCappy: Uh, while I'm glad you like that Sakura inherited her hair color from her father, Mebuki and Kizashi are actually her parents according to the anime. They appear in two episodes and the sixth Shippuden movie.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Naruto checked the bandages wrapped around his wrists before rolling down his sleeves. He zipped up his tracksuit before looking in the mirror with a confident grin.
A month had passed since the prelims ended. A month of harsh training, time spent with friends old and new and talking with the man who'd trained his father. Now the time had come. Today, he and his team would make chunin. He knew it!
Satisfied that he was all set to go, the blond left home. He'd rarely seen so few people on the streets as at this moment. He bet the arena was packed.
He took to an alley, bounding up the walls to the roof. From there, he could see a large procession of people going down the main road, lined with onlookers. The VIPs were here, alright.
He hopped back down to the streets and made his way to Konoha's arena. He'd always wondered what went down in there. He found his team waiting for him at the side entrance, away from the crowds.
"Hey guys," He greeted Sasuke and Sakura. "Looks like I'm the last one, huh?"
"Draw up some last-minute tricks?" Sasuke asked.
Naruto grinned, "Something like that. You guys ready to show everyone what we're made of?" He asked, punching his open palm with his fist. He got two nods, with a look of determination from Sakura and a smirk from Sasuke.
The three of them then walked inside together.
Fuu looked down from her rooftop vantage point, her legs hanging off the edge as she watched the line of visitors to the village trail onwards toward the arena.
She'd gotten up and prepared for her big day bright and early so that she knew she wouldn't miss this.
Despite how long she'd been waiting here, she watched no less attentively than when she first arrived. She watched the people eagerly, looking for the person she hoped to see.
"Fuu!" The mint-haired girl turned around to see Giichi appear. "How long are you going to wait up here? You're going to be late!"
"Don't worry about me," Fuu replied with a smile before gazing back into the crowd. "I know what time it is. I'm not going to let Shibuki down by being late."
She wasn't sure she'd be able to look herself in the mirror again if she did.
"And that's why you're up here, right? You're waiting to see if he's going to be here," Giichi guessed with a raised brow as he crossed his arms.
Fuu just giggled and closed her eyes. At least he knew her that well. She wondered if maybe he was starting to warm up to her. He had considered meeting her new friends a few times. And he and their sensei asked what she'd been up to with them.
It was nice that they were looking out for her, even if she couldn't tell if it was because they cared or just because of her importance to Taki.
Giichi sighed, "Well, I might as well wait up here too. It'd be nice knowing he's cheering us on."
The mint-haired girl briefly looked back at him with a beaming smile before looking back at the crowd.
"You know, I half expected you to cause some big scene as you did at the tower. You get everyone back home up in arms enough..." Giichi noted.
"Eh, that's because they don't like it when I go exploring. And, well, you know..."
"Right, like the time you decided to vanish for a whole day to make the chunin play hide and seek with you?" Giichi asked dryly, getting another giggle from Fuu as she sheepishly rubbed the back of her head.
It was then that Fuu's eyes widened. She shot to her feet with a beaming smile as her hands formed eager fists in front of her. "Look! There he is!"
Down below, walking amid the arrivals was a trio of Taki shinobi. At their head was a young man just out of his teens. The man had black eyes and long, dark brown hair. He wore gray pants with a green shirt and had a gray shoulder pad on his left shoulder with a brown strap across his waist.
Fuu brought her hands to her mouth, made a funnel, and called out, "Hey! Shibuki!"
The man turned surprised eyes up to her, and she waved down at him. He returned the gesture with a smile.
Fuu squealed happily.
"Well, satisfied?" Giichi asked.
"Yep! Let's go make him proud!"
As Naruto and his team entered the stadium, he paused as he looked up at the stands.
They were almost packed full. And the blond could see more people coming up through the many stairs. No surprise, he guessed, considering how many VIPs were here. He wondered where Kakashi was. He had to be up there somewhere.
He looked beside him to see how his teammates were handling it. Sasuke seemed apathetic of the many eyes that were on them, while Sakura seemed nervous.
"Sakura," Naruto said, getting her attention. "Just take a breath; we've got this."
Sasuke grunted in agreement. "You've come this far."
The pink-haired girl took a breath and nodded, smiling slightly. "Thanks, guys."
Naruto grinned. "Come on, that promotion's waiting on us!"
The three genin walked forward, joining the others, standing in a line before a chunin. Naruto frowned as he got a look at the guy. 'Huh? What happened to that Hayate guy?'
The previous proctor had been replaced by a man with straight, shoulder-length brown hair and matching eyes. He wore the standard Konoha shinobi attire with a bandana-style forehead protector. He had a senbon in his mouth, his hands in his pockets as he eyed the new arrivals.
'Hope he's alright. He did seem sick...' Naruto thought, remembering the dark circles under Hayate's eyes and how often he coughed.
He looked at the other genin, lined up in front of him, and found they were some of the last to arrive. Shikamaru, Hinata, and Gaara's team were already there.
"Hey, Shikamaru," Naruto greeted as he and his team approached the lineup. "You all set for your match?"
"Hardly," Shikamaru replied with a sigh. "This is such a drag..."
Naruto chuckled; some things never changed.
It was a while later that Naruto heard quick footfalls. He turned to see Fuu entering the arena, Giichi trailing behind.
Naruto smiled. "Hey, cutting it close, huh Fuu?"
Fuu stopped, beaming at him. "Naruto, get this! Shibuki's here after all!"
Naruto's brows shot up, and then he looked at her curiously. "Oh, is that what you were doing?"
The mint-haired girl nodded her head. "Yep! I just had to see if he would be here with the other VIPs, and he is! I've gotta show him he was right to send me here!" She then pointed at Sasuke with an exuberant grin. "No holding back during our match, Sasuke! Let's show everyone our best!"
"No need to tell me that," Sasuke replied with a smirk.
"Hey, pipe down." The proctor said. "This isn't the schoolyard, you know." That drew the attention of all the genin. "Try to look good for the customers."
At that, all the hopefuls stood at attention, waiting for the exam to start.
Time passed as the genin stood at attention, but there were no signs of any new arrivals. Or at least, not down in the field. Naruto's wandering eyes landed on the Hokage, looking down on the proceedings from the highest spot when he saw others join him.
Two men flanked a third, wearing matching attire to the Hokage's but blue where the Hiruzen's were red. Naruto couldn't make out much about him from so far away, but he was wearing a matching hat too, but with a cloth mask that covered half of his face.
'I guess that's the Kazekage...' Naruto glanced at the Suna genin. Gaara was giving their leader an intense glare, but aside from that, they didn't seem to react.
Minutes ticked by, and as the time for the exams to start approached, still, the final hopeful didn't show. Strange, given that it seemed like Orochimaru had wanted them to participate. Wouldn't he care that this would embarrass his village?
Then again, given who he was talking about, maybe not...
Finally, the Third Hokage stood. "Everyone! Before we begin, I would like to thank you all for coming to Konoha's Chunin Exams!" The Third God of Shinobi called out, his voice echoing throughout the arena. "We will now start the tournament between all the participants who made it this far! I ask that you stay and watch until the end!"
"Alright," The proctor said, turning to face them. "It looks like we have a no-show." He then turned his brown eyes on Gaara. "If you're late for your match, that's an automatic forfeit. Bad luck, her's was up first. Therefore by default, Gaara is the winner of the first match."
The redhead just scoffed. The crowd, meanwhile, didn't seem happy about that. Naruto could hear the people grumbling about it. No surprise, he doubted that happened often.
"Well, nothing we can do but move on," the proctor then pointed his thumb at his chest. "Name's Genma Shiranui, and I'll be the proctor from here on out. Now, in case anyone's forgotten," he said before he reached into his pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper. "Here are the matchups for the final round of the Chunin Exams."
It was the same sheet Ibiki had drawn up a month ago.
"We're moving on to the second match. Rules are the same as the prelims: there are no rules. The fight continues until either I decide it's over, or one of you dies or acknowledges defeat," Genma briefly explained. "Now, everyone but Sasuke and Fuu, head up to the waiting room." He said, jerking his head at the open room above.
As the genin sans the combatants made their way to the stands, Naruto half-turned to face them and said, "Break a leg, you two!"
Fuu took her spot across from Sasuke, took a deep breath, steeled herself, and slipped into her fighting stance while Sasuke did the same.
This was it. This was what Fuu had spent the last month training for. Here was her chance to put Taki's name back on the map, just like Shibuki dreamed of. Her brother, who was watching right now, was somewhere up in the stands.
Time to make him proud.
The mint-haired girl was tense, her brow furrowed as she looked at her opponent with determination as she waited.
The proctor raised his hand. "And... begin!"
Fuu shot forward, blurring out of sight as crimson bled into Sasuke's eyes.
The Sharingan. The dojutsu of the Uchiha clan... and she didn't know what it did. She could guess. It was an eye ability, so it probably improved his sight. Maybe let him read movements or see things the naked eye can't. The way he fought during his prelim match told her that much.
Her strategy would be good to test out those eyes' abilities, but it wasn't the right time to spring it. That left only one way to find out.
So she thought before the world faded away, leaving her in a void.
Naruto frowned as he saw Fuu go stiff as stone. Then he saw her relax and come out of her fighting stance, standing at ease despite the proctor's command.
For a moment, he wondered what had happened. Then he noticed Sasuke do the same with a smirk and realized what had happened.
"What happened?" Lee asked, looking down at the arena in confusion.
"Sasuke must have caught her in a genjutsu," Sakura noted.
'End a fight before it begins if you have the chance': just like Kakashi-sensei taught them.
Naruto gripped the railing, staring hard down into the arena. "Yeah, that sounds like what he'd do..."
Lee's eyes widened. "That quickly?" He then frowned as he looked at the two combatants, probably wondering if Sasuke could have done that when he challenged him before.
"Geez..." Giichi said with a sigh, putting one hand on his head.
"Thought so," Shikamaru agreed. "It's the smart move. He might be showing his hand a little early, but it'll mean he'll be fresh in the next match." He eyed Gaara. "And given who his opponent is..."
Sakura shook her head and looked to the ground. "Aw, man. I can't say I blame him, but... poor Fuu."
Yeah, his thoughts exactly.
He was torn. On the one hand, he couldn't help but applaud his rival and teammate for winning so quickly. But, on the other, he'd hate to see his new friend, someone he felt surprisingly connected to, go down like this.
It would be humiliating to lose before the match even started.
His grip tightened on the cold steel of the railing as he watched Sasuke walk up to his opponent. 'Come on, Fuu... do something...'
The proctor put his hand on his hip. Naruto didn't doubt he already knew what had happened. "You know you two can start anytime, right?"
Sasuke looked to the proctor. "That won't be necessary. My opponent will no longer be able to battle."
The proctor crossed his arms. "Oh?" He turned to Fuu. "Is he correct? Can you no longer fight?"
No response.
Sasuke stopped right in front of her. "See?' He said, reaching out to push her. "She can't even stand."
Just before he touched her, Fuu's arm snapped up like a predator and caught Sasuke's wrist.
"What?!" The Uchiha said, taking an involuntary step back at the unexpected action.
Fuu's eyes are now shown with their usual brightness, looking right into his Sharingan. "Sorry, Sasuke. Maybe next time."
Naruto grinned. 'Way to go, Fuu!'
How!? How had she broken out of the Sharingan's genjutsu? He knew well the power of his clan's vaunted eyes. From stories to personal experiences, he knew how quickly those techniques could end a fight.
So how had Fuu broken it so quickly?
He doubted she was a prodigy with genjutsu. Her chakra rivaled Naruto's, bizarre as that was, and he knew firsthand from seeing Naruto train how much more difficult that made controlling it. That made learning things like genjutsu much harder.
A Kekkei Genkai of her own? Doubtful, given that she didn't have a family name, but not out of the question. Special training to counter genjutsu? Why that specifically?
Any further musings were cut off when Fuu pressed her advantage, throwing a punch at his chest. He deflected the blow but was taken off balance when Fuu pulled at his captured arm, pulling him right into a knee to the gut.
She spun on her heel, momentum aiding to the high kick that landed squarely on his jaw, sending him reeling back.
She shot forward, blurring out of sight, and drove her fist right into his solar plexus while he was still dazed from the blow. Another kick to the chin sent him into the air.
Fuu leaped into the air after him, peppering him with blows before spinning and slamming her leg into his back, sending him crashing to the ground.
That was his chance. He recovered and looked up. Then, out of the corner of his eye, seeing her weave hand seals.
Webbing burst from her hands, a single thick thread, ending in a net that would ensnare Sasuke, but the Uchiha kicked himself to the side.
Sasuke landed on his feet, and his crimson eyes honed in on Fuu as she landed. She immediately vanished in another burst of speed, but he could see her every move, his eyes showing him a shadow of where she would go.
Fuu reappeared in front of Sasuke, spun, and swept out her arm, only for the Uchiha to duck under the attack. He jumped back when she continued her momentum and lashed out with her leg.
The mint-haired kunoichi pressed the attack, launching forward with a jab. Sasuke brushed the attack aside with his forearm. He side-stepped when she lashed out with a kick and then grabbed her arm when she jabbed at him with her elbow.
He retaliated with a kick, and she quickly raised her arm to shield her chest from the blow. Sasuke then leaped into the air and twisted, aiming another kick at her head. She ducked beneath the attack, and the two disengaged, Sasuke kicking off her chest as she forced herself back.
She burst into motion, vanishing and reappearing in bursts of speed as Sasuke's head turned this way and that to keep her in his line of sight.
She weaved in and out, striking him before backing off. Then, she leaped into the air and came down at him, and her fist raised back. Ah, that move.
Sasuke vanished in a burst of speed of his own. He reappeared in the air about a dozen yards away, weaving hand signs before inhaling. 'Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!'
He breathed out a stream of fireballs as Fuu dodged left and right, forced back as he peppered the arena with fire. He landed, his view obscured by smoke, debris, and embers, but he could still see her through her chakra. He saw her charge toward him and threw shuriken before using Body Flicker.
He saw from her movements that she deflected his ninja stars with a kunai before throwing more in his direction.
Was she a sensor, or did she just have good hearing? The latter made sense. She'd need to be able to fight without sight to make the most use of that silver powder technique of hers.
He saw her throw something his way and heard the sound of metal cutting through the air. He drew a kunai of his own to deflect the attacks, only for his eyes to widen as he saw what was attached to the kunai.
Smoke bombs.
They erupted, covering a good part of the arena in black smog as Fuu charged to meet him.
She leaped into a high kick. Sasuke ducked under the attack, gritting his teeth. He could still see her chakra, but without reading the subtle shift in her muscles, the Sharingan couldn't predict her moves.
Not good. Because as Sasuke surmised from seeing Fuu fight so far, she seemed to focus on taijutsu and close-range combat.
He swept his leg out to knock her off her feet as she landed, only for her to leap over the attack. She raised her leg in an ax kick, and he jumped back.
He reached into his pouch and drew shuriken wrapped in ninja wire. He threw them and smirked as he sensed them sail past her in the smog. Then he clicked his tongue as she leaped into the air and vanished in a burst of speed.
Damn, she figured it out. She must have remembered how that trick from the prelims.
He turned his head from side to side, catching brief glimpses of Fuu darting around him. Then, as she did, he heard the hiss of pressurized air around him.
More smoke bombs. Great.
He sensed danger just in time to duck as she flew over his head from behind. She landed and spun on her heels, closing the distance between them immediately.
He moved to deflect a blow aimed at his head but found it a faint when Fuu suddenly dived down, spun on the ground, and whipped up her leg at him.
The Uchiha leaned back to dodge, only for the mint-haired kunoichi to grab his ankle. She pulled him off of his feet as she spun and raised herself up. Sasuke had just enough time to raise his hands over his chest before a kick sent him flying.
She blurred forward and continued her assault. Sasuke blocked the first two attacks before she slipped through his guard and landed a jab on his jaw, whipping his head back. Another blow had him double over.
Thinking quickly, Sasuke reached into his pouch, pulled out a ball of explosive tags, and dropped it. As it began sparking and popping, Fuu took the hint and kicked herself back. Sasuke did the same, right before it went off between them.
The Uchiha dropped two more before retreating further into the smog. He came to a dead stop just the last tag went off, his eyes honing in on Fuu.
The mint-haired girl had stopped moving. Good. She'd lost track of him. And as long as he didn't make any noise, he'd bought himself some breathing room.
The hissing had also stopped. So the smoke should start clearing now.
And then Fuu began to move again, weaving hand seals and releasing another net of webs in a random direction. Then another.
Ok then. Never mind waiting this out.
Sasuke put his hands together in a tiger sign and vanished in a burst of speed. Fuu immediately noticed and followed as he sped through the clearing smoke.
He smirked as his vision cleared just as she caught up with him. He turned to face her. Once more, his Sharingan read and predicted her moves.
She threw a jab at him as the Uchiha raised his arm as if to guard, only for tilt to the side, deflecting the attack with his free arm. Next, he drove his elbow into her torso, knocking the wind out of her. He then ducked down and twisted into a high kick aimed square at her chin.
Fuu was sent into the air, and Sasuke kneeled down before vanishing, reappearing behind her as she sailed through the air.
"Dancing Leaf Shadow," Sasuke said, "Looks like I've got you right where I want you,"
"Don't be so sure about that!" Fuu replied as she swept her arm out. He easily deflected it, maneuvering her into position for a finishing move.
But then she raised her arm and jabbed her elbow back into his chest. He blocked the attack, but when he pushed back, the mint-haired girl twisted her body and swung her leg out.
He blocked with his own, and Fuu pushed herself away from him, causing him to click his teeth.
They both landed, and she immediately blurred over to him again before changing direction at the last minute. He ducked as she attacked him from behind, driving his foot up into her chest.
He spun to follow up, but Fuu quickly formed two hand seals and breathed out a cloud of glittering silver powder.
Sasuke immediately shot backward, away from the cloud. He cursed under his breath; the powder was formed of chakra. He couldn't see anything inside of it.
But it also gave him an opportunity.
He ran through hand seals and kneaded chakra in his chest. 'Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!'
He only needed a small one. So he breathed out a fireball and watched it fly into the silver cloud.
The effect was immediate. The whole thing went up with a bang, the wind tousling Sasuke's hair as he shielded his face.
And when everything cleared, there was... nothing—no sign of his opponent.
He clicked his tongue. Fuu had known he'd do that. And now he'd lost track of her.
Now, where did she...?
His danger senses screamed at him, and he ducked just in time to avoid a kick through the air.
He looked up and prepared to strike at Fuu... only for another one to appear in front of his widening eyes.
A kick to his chest sent him flying through the air, right into a third Fuu, but he recovered in time. He twisted his body, blocking a punch from her with his forearm before using her arm to flip himself into the air, bringing his foot down on her.
When one of the other Fuus came at him with a kick, he grabbed her leg and continued his attack, only to toss himself into the air when the last one came at him from the other side.
When he landed, he gave the three an amused look.
"Really? A clone jutsu? Copycat."
Yep, that's how Fuu had thought Sasuke would feel about it.
Just like she'd hoped he would.
Fuu grinned. "Well, it's a pretty good trick for fighting someone with a dojutsu."
"Maybe, but it's one I'm used to," Sasuke said confidently, slipping back into his fighting stance.
Yep. That was the point.
Fuu and her clones went on the offensive, vanishing at once in bursts of speed before coming at Sasuke from different directions.
Sasuke turned his head to see an attack coming at him from behind. He side-stepped a kick but ducked down when another clone aimed a blow at his neck. He grasped its forearm and threw both away as another Fuu attacked from his side.
He kicked himself back before deflecting a jab with his forearm, but it was then that the others rejoined the fight. He raised his arm to block an ax kick from above, grunting under its force, before another clone landed a blow square on his chest.
... Only for him to burst into smoke, which quickly cleared to reveal a log.
A log covered in explosive tags!
The Fuus scattered just in time to evade the explosion, and as they came to a stop, they all turned to see Sasuke overhead. The Uchiha heir threw a series of explosive kunai down at them, and soon the arena was littered with explosions.
As they charged toward Sasuke, they heard the sound of fire roaring towards them. Dragons made of fire tore through the smoke, eight of them coming from this way and that.
The Fuus dodged the attacks, but it was then that Sasuke charged into the clearing smog, more dragons following just behind him. He singled one out as the dragons kept the others at bay.
The clone charged to meet him as her counterparts dodged the fire. She vanished in a burst of speed just as they were about to clash.
She reappeared behind Sasuke and threw a volley of shuriken at him. The Uchiha heir ducked beneath the attack as Fuu launched herself at him, springing into a kick aimed at his head.
The Uchiha leaned back and raised his leg, her attack sailing over his head as his foot dug into her chest.
The real Fuu grinned when she saw this.
Sasuke clearly didn't realize his mistake as the Fuu he kicked turned white as his foot dug through its chest. However, he clearly did a moment later when his eyes widened in shock as the clone suddenly exploded into webs.
"What!?" He exclaimed as the webs covered everything in a six-foot radius around him. His right side was fully bound, keeping him from forming hand signs.
This was it; she had him!
She came to a stop as her remaining clone charged to end the fight.
Then Sasuke's right hand glowed blue. Lightning surged around his palm, allowing him to cut the webbing.
He could use two elements!?
He threw his hand out at the clone, and the lightning dispersed, shocking the clone and leaving it helpless. He ran past it, slicing its side with a shuriken held between his fingers as he went. He was well out of range when it burst into webs.
Fuu grit her teeth. Remembering about his genjutsu, she closed her eyes and listened. Hearing the sound of his footsteps. The quiet noise of his arm ripping through the air as he threw something and...
And then everything was drowned out by a loud popping.
Fuu opened her eyes, careful to look down and not at Sasuke's face. She ducked as the Uchiha slashed at her before raising her arm to block a kick.
She then threw herself back when he jumped into a flip, kicking at her... and looked at her at the first opportunity.
No, you don't! She immediately closed her eyes. As he landed and she came to a stop, she placed her hand on the ground. She then used a jutsu Shibuki had taught her. One that she'd never had a chance to use before since it was meant for spying missions.
'I've got you now, Sasuke!' She sent the thought at him, and the Uchiha froze, glancing over his shoulder.
She immediately shot forward and slammed her foot into his chest before vanishing in a burst of speed. She appeared behind him in a crouch and kicked up at him, only for him to launch himself into the air above her.
She looked away as he landed, just before their eyes met, and threw a paper bomb at him.
No cry of pain. He avoided the explosion.
Fuu charged forward and ran through hand seals, hearing Sasuke running to meet her. Just as she cleared the cloud, she lept above him. 'Net-Shaped Prison!'
She threw an expanding web at him, forcing him to leap to the side to avoid. She immediately made another, this time aimed where he would land.
Sasuke clicked his teeth, dropping his shuriken, and made a single hand seal before breathing out a stream of fire at the ground, burning the web and kicking up a wall of flames.
The moment she landed, Sasuke flashed in front of her with a Body Flicker, crouched down, looking up at her.
And instantly, the world fell away, and she found herself in a void again. Once more trapped in his illusions.
It was broken a second later, but that had been all Sasuke needed. Already, the shuriken, wrapped with wires, had halfway made their first coil around her. In seconds, she was unable to move.
Sasuke smirked as he stood up straight. "You took advantage of the fact that I was used to clone jutsu. I've fought Naruto's shadow clones so long, I never thought the real danger might be in destroying them. Pretty clever, Fuu."
Fuu struggled fruitlessly against the wiring; she couldn't lose like this, not in front of Shibuki!
But she couldn't move at all...
Well, she could probably snap the wires if...
No... No! Not even an option! She promised Shibuki. And even if she hadn't, that wasn't her power. She wasn't going to borrow it for something like this. Damn! She really wanted to win...
Fuu slumped. "Yeah, that's what I was counting on," She said, looking down at the ground. "Looks like you win."
The proctor raised his arm. "Fuu has admitted defeat! The winner of the first match is Sasuke Uchiha!"
Sasuke began to walk away but gave a glancing look back at Fuu. The mint-haired girl was back to her usual bubbly self, chatting away with the proctor as he was helping to snap the wire she was encased in with his kunai.
His eyes narrowed. His "victory" had left him feeling unusually bitter, unsatisfied. He thought back to those final seconds of the match. He could tell; Fuu had something up her sleeve, but then it was like she had just decided to throw the fight.
There was no question about it. Fuu had taken it easy on him.
Part of him was angered by the blow to his pride, but the more pressing thing on his mind was why?
Was it because she had considered him a friend? Perhaps, but would she really throw a match for someone she'd only known for a month?
Was she already injured somehow and didn't want to worsen an injury? Unlikely.
She was hiding something. Something worth throwing the match, worth giving up a promotion to chunin.
But what?
Feels good to finally release a new chapter.
So, Sasuke's pride in his clan led him to blunder a bit at the start but, well, the fully evolved Sharingan in pretty op, not to mention that it negated her biggest advantages: her superior speed and taijutsu skill. Still, letting the Sharingan's powers go to his head at the start is going to cost Sasuke.
There's not much canon evidence to support it, given how little we saw of Fuu's abilities, but I thought it plausible she was skilled at fighting on sound to make the most use of that powder. She couldn't exactly detonate it if she was fighting in an enclosed space, after all. Kaito tried the something similar on Hinata, but in that case he was just hoping she'd be more inconvenienced than him, whereas Fuu is actually used to fighting in those conditions. Plus, it actually did disable the Sharingan's biggest advantages: predicting the opponent's moves through reading minute shifts in muscle and genjutsu via eye contact. Shame she lost anyway. She spent a whole month planning how she was going to handle these fights, when she wasn't having fun, because Shibuki would be watching...
Well, hope you enjoyed it. Please review.